Growing up in the Deep South, the taste of freshly-cooked ribs always brings back nostalgic memories of childhood. The aroma of slow-cooked meats drifting through the air feels like a warm invitation back home. Discovering that I could recreate flavorful, fall-off-the-bone ribs in my home oven, without the need for an elaborate smoker, was a game-changer.
Creating country-style pork ribs at home is a breeze with just three simple steps: bake, sauce, and bake again. Unlike the labor-intensive process of smoking ribs, this oven method requires minimal effort and only three hours of cooking time.
These succulent, smoky oven-baked country-style pork ribs are ideal for cozy dinners, football gatherings, or entertaining a crowd. The way the sauce caramelizes on the ribs and the fat renders to form a beautiful crust around the tender meat that effortlessly slides off the bone is a true delight.
Selecting the perfect barbecue sauce is crucial for this recipe, along with sourcing fresh, quality ribs from a reliable store. Opt for sauces that offer hickory or apple wood smoke flavors to infuse that smoky essence into the ribs. The sauce should also contain sugar to aid in the caramelization process while cooking. Popular barbecue sauce choices include Kraft Original, Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory and Brown Sugar, and Stubb’s Hickory Bourbon.
For a slow cooker variation, season the ribs with salt and pepper, add water, and cook on low heat for four hours until the meat is fork-tender. Finish with a generous serving of barbecue sauce before serving.
For a hassle-free experience, try this 2-ingredient country-style pork ribs recipe. With just ribs, salt, pepper, and barbecue sauce, you can create a mouthwatering dish perfect for any occasion. Follow the simple instructions to enjoy juicy, flavorful ribs that will impress your guests.
Preheat your oven, prepare the ribs with salt and pepper, bake until tender, then glaze with barbecue sauce for a delectable finish. Whether you bake them or use a slow cooker, these ribs are sure to be a hit at any gathering.
Bake the ribs in the oven, uncovered, until the sauce forms a crust-like appearance, which usually takes about 1 hour. Once done, take the ribs out of the oven and use a pastry brush to generously coat them with the remaining 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce. Let the ribs rest for approximately 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Variation:
For a different twist to this recipe, experiment with various barbecue rubs such as McCormick Grill Mates Sweet and Smoky Rub or Dak’s Salt-Free BBQueen. These rubs can introduce a range of flavors like smokiness, spiciness, and sweetness, adding depth to your dish. Keep an eye on the salt content though: if the rub contains salt, consider reducing or omitting the salt specified in this recipe to prevent the ribs from turning out too salty.
For more culinary inspiration, visit the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES by Jessica Furniss.
